Liquid crystal display device having a high aperture ratio

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device includes first and second gate lines, first and second data lines intersecting said first and second gate lines, an insulating film covering said gate lines, and a pixel electrode overlapping the first and second gate lines and the first and second data lines in order to increase the aperture ratio. The storage capacitor has a first storage capacitor electrode which is a portion of the first gate line, a second storage capacitor electrode a width of which is substantially same as that of the gate lines, the insulating film between the first and second storage capacitor electrodes, and a protecting film having a contact hole on the second storage capacitor electrode. The pixel electrode contacts the second storage capacitor electrode through the contact hole of the protecting film.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: 
       an insulating substrate;  
       first and second gate lines on said substrate;  
       first and second data lines crossing said first and second gate lines and defining a pixel region;  
       an insulating film on said gate lines;  
       a pixel electrode in said pixel region;  
       a switching element in said pixel region and connected between one of the first and said second gate lines and said pixel electrode;  
       a storage capacitor including a first storage capacitor electrode made of a portion of said first gate line, a second storage capacitor electrode having a width that is substantially same as that of said first gate line, the insulating film being between the first and second storage capacitor electrodes; and  
       a protecting film having a contact hole on the second storage capacitor electrode;  
       wherein said pixel electrode overlaps said first and second gate lines on the protecting film and contacts the second storage capacitor electrode through the contact hole of the protecting film.  
     
     
       2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein said pixel electrode is made of substantially non-transparent material. 
     
     
       3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein said pixel electrode is made of substantially reflective material. 
     
     
       4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein said pixel electrode is made of a substantially transparent material. 
     
     
       5. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein said pixel electrode overlaps said first and second data lines. 
     
     
       6. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein said switching element is a thin film transistor. 
     
     
       7. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein the pixel electrode overlaps at least a portion of the entire first and second gate lines except at an area of the switching element. 
     
     
       8. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  7 , wherein the pixel electrode overlaps at least a portion of the entire first and second data lines except at an area of the switching element. 
     
     
       9. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein the second storage electrode helps to reduce flicker. 
     
     
       10. A liquid crystal display device according to claim  9 , wherein the second storage electrode blocks an electric field caused by at least one of the first and second gate lines.